WEST NORFOLK AND FENS: I can still remember when the end of the season meant just that and March 14 heralded a three-month lay-off.

Now the worst of the winter's already forgotten, as we start eying up the still waters for late spring sessions.

West Norfolk boasts a wide variety, offering everything from dads 'n' lads lakes, to full-on commercials, with some solid club and specimen waters thrown in. But where to go?

King's Lynn AA have the excellent Shepherd's Port complex at Snettisham, which features four different venues.

Shepherd's Lake is a comfy mixed water, with silvers, bream and tench the mainstay.

Stanton's Lake is more of same, but bigger, if that makes sense, with dustbin lid-sized bream and a few big carp.

Bear Lake is a commercial-inspired doughnut full of carp, carp and more carp from pasties to low doubles.

Over the back is Ken Hill Marsh – a freshwater creek left by the ravages of the '53 floods which contains tench, rudd and a few carp.

Lynn also runs Tottenhill Pit, just off the A10. This is a horseshoe-shaped lake which offers strong mixed fishing for tench, bream and carp.

If you want to fish all this lot, it'll cost you �54 for a Lynn silver ticket (�38 concessions, �11 junior).

For the first time, the club is opening up its still waters on April 1 — not this weekend, but the next. More information online at www.klaa.co.uk.

Pentney Lakes have already kicked off carp-wise, with a 26lb common topping a five-fish haul the best so far.

There are small pits where you can catch on the float and bigger, more specimen-oriented lakes that favour the bivvy brigade.

Best runs water is the Cabin Lake.

Fishing starts at �10 a day – book in with the bailiff at the Log Cabin as you pull onto the site.

For easy-going mixed fishing, you'll struggle to beat Springside Lake, off the Snettisham Bypass.

The introduction of bream last spring really transformed the place and it was on cracking form in late spring/early summer.

It's a fiver on the bank (�2.50 for an extra rod) – for all the information you need go to www.hunstantontackle.co.uk.